Trolley wheel



Patented Feb. 8, 1927. Y

f UNi- SY WALTER E. SEECI-IT, F MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASS'G-NOR- TO TI-IEfiOUI-)EN IWEACHINERY v COMPANY, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA.

TROLLEY WHEEL.

Application led August 20, 1926. SerialNo. 130,477.

My invention relates to wheels designed to carry loads on overhead tracks,and it consists of an improvement in vthe construction of the wheel whereby theiriction in running on the-track will be reduced to the minimum,

and at the same time the simplicity and durability of the wheel will be preserved. Also,

.- Wheel being removed.

Referring to the drawing, A represents a trolley wheel having a circular opening A transversely through its center, and B is an axle upon which the wheel is mounted. The axle is provided with a shouldered end B and its other end is adapted to be connected to a trolley frame of any suitable type, but which is not shown in the drawing. C and D are a pair of bearing rings which are adapted to be mounted on the shouldered end of the axle. These rings are preferably rectangular in cross section and are of a size to loosely iill the transverse opening in the center of the wheel. Y

In the center of the portion of the Wheel surrounding the transverse opening, a substantially semi-circular ball race groove is circumferentially out, which is ladapted to receive a series of bearing balls E.V In the meeting edges of the bearing rings C and D a similar ball race groove is out, one half of said groove being in the adjacentedge ofv each ofthe rings. The groove in the wheel is represented by'F, asV shown in Figs.l 1 and V4. In addition, a smaller` groove H is cut circumferentially around the central part of the wheel surrounding the groove F, and an opening I leading into the groove F is cut in the wheel.

vThe purpose of the groove H and the opening I is to admit a lubricant int-o the groove F and from that on to the balls E contained therein, which will be carried by the balls E to the groove in the edges of the bearing rings C and D. By this means all the bearing .surfaces can be thoroughly lubricated andthe surplus lubricant will he held in theV port-ion of the i groove H in the lower` sidel of the wheel, whilev the lubricant in the portion ofthe groover in the upper side of the wheel will be vevenly distributed over f the ballsVE andon tothe portion et the groove lionlthe bearing rings C- andgD immediately The ou-ter edge of the wheel'Aishouldbe madeto fit the rcontour of the 'track'on which it is to run. As shownin Figs. land il, it is providedwitlr a transversely flat surface, on one edge -of which there is'a fiange J. This "form ofl wheel is designed-'torun on one edge of.' a flat track, or on'y one*l edgeV oiV a flat flange of 'the track. "As a'gene'ral rule twowheels of this` term are used, one

wheel on each side of the track with a trolley l frame connecting the wheels together. Va-

rious structures of trolley frames and tracks may be used with my improved trolley wheel, but the form of the trolley frame or track will not affect advantages of my invention. f y

'In assemblingthe parts, itis preferable to first place the bearing ring D on the shouldered end B of the axle, driving it down against the shoulder and shrinking or other- Vwise rigidly fastening it there, soit will stay securely in place. The wheel A is then held in a horizontal position with the flange J on the lower side. The shouldered end of the axle with the ring D thereon is Vthen passed up into the circular transverse opening in the wheel. The requisite number of ballsE are then dropped into the groove F and the corresponding groove in the edge of the ring D. v i

Following this the ring Clis placed on the Vupwardly extending end of the axle until the groove in its adjacent edge comes in contact with the balls in position therein,

vand the adjoining sidesof the rings C and D will be in Contact.k Vhen this is'done all that remainsV is to fasten Athe ring C in place on the end of the axle. This may be done in a number of ways known to those skilled in the art, but a preferable way is to form a slight recess in the outer edge of the opening in the ring C, and then rive-t down the end B2 of the axle to fill thisrecess, which will hold the 'ring securely inplace on the axle. My invention is the essence of simp-licity, all supplemental parts being carefullyexcluded. It `is' also exceedingly eliicient and durable, va Wheel thus equipped having run several thousand miles before becoming Worn or needing repair.

i Whatl l claim and desirek to secure by Letters Patent is a 1. In trolley Wheels7 the combination of a Wheel having a circular opening transversely through its center, a substantially semicircular ball race groove cut circumferentially vin the central portion of the Wheel surrounding said opening, an axleradapted to v be connected to a ytrolley frame, a pair Vof bearing ringsimounted on the axle'adjoining each other, said rings being substantially rectangular inV cross section and o'a size l to loosely fill the transverse opening in the v wheel, :a substantially Vsemicircular ball race groove cut circumferentially in the adjoin ing edges of the rings, a series of balls mounted in the grooves cut in the Wheel and in the adgoining edges or the rings7 said balls being adapted to carry the Weight of the trolley on the Wheel, a smaller groove being circumferentially cut in the Wheel outside of and adjoining the central portion of the ballrace groove said smaller groove viorniing areceptacle for a lubricant, and an opening in the Wheel to admit a lubricant into said smaller groove to lubricate the bearings in the ball race grooves, and means to securely connect the rings to the shaft.

2. In trolley Wheels, the combination Vof a Wheel having a circular opening transversely through its center, a substantially semicirvcular ball race groove cut circumferentially in the central portion ofthe Wheel surrounding said opening, an axle having a shouldered end, itsl other end'being adapted "to be giooves, a mating ring having asimilar groove in its adjacent corner adapted to be slid on the shouldered end ofthe axle, Whereby the balls will be -held in place in theV grooves,

and means to rigidly secure said ring to the axle. f

WALTER E. sruonr. 

